CLOTHES DRYER

Abstract

 A clothes dryer according to the present invention includes: a housing (11); a drum which holds clothes to be dried; a hot air generator (13) which generates hot air to be sent into the drum; an air blower (14) which is disposed at a front lower portion within the housing (11) and which draws ambient air into the housing (11); an ambient air inlet (26) provided in a bottom (11a) of the housing (11) and in front of the air blower (14); and an opening (28) which is provided at the bottom (11a) of the housing (11) and which communicates with the air blower (14). Such a structure prevents entry of foreign objects from the front face of the housing (11) and ensures drawing of ambient air through the opening (28) even if the ambient air inlet (26) is blocked.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to clothes dryers for drying clothes.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A conventional clothes dryer dries clothes using hot air, and includes an air blower for cooling the inside of a housing.

[0003] Drying the clothes generally increases the temperature and humidity of the air in the housing of the clothes dryer. Hence, the conventional clothes dryer uses the air blower to draw ambient air from outside of the housing into the housing through an ambient air inlet. In this way, the high-temperature and high-humidity air in the housing is cooled and is also vented to the outside of the housing.

[0004] In the case of a clothes dryer including a heat pump device for generating hot air, air drawn in by an air blower from the outside of the housing is used to cool, in particular, a compressor of the heat pump device. This increases heat-exchange efficiency of the heat pump device.

[0005] Here, the ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into the housing is provided in the bottom of the housing. This reduces entry of water or foreign objects into the housing from the outside, compared with the case where the ambient air inlet is provided in the front face of the housing. The ambient air inlet provided in the bottom of the housing, however, may allow dust, which is likely to be generated (accumulated) near the bottom of the housing, to be drawn into the housing through the ambient air inlet.

[0006] In view of the above, a clothes dryer has been disclosed which includes an ambient air inlet with a filter for collecting dust (for example, see Patent Literature (PTL) 1).

[0007] However, with the clothes dryer disclosed in PTL 1, dust is likely to adhere to and clog the filter (that is, block the apertures of the filter). Clogging of the filter reduces the drawing efficiency of the ambient air from the outside into the housing.

[0008] In view of this, the above clothes dryer includes a structure which allows a user to pull out the filter from the front of the clothes dryer and clean the filter.

[0009] However, such a structure in which the filter is pulled out forward from the housing requires a gap between the front face of the housing of the clothes dryer and the filter. As a result, water, foreign objects and the like enter the housing through the gap. Additionally, the filter is partially exposed to the front face of the housing of the clothes dryer, which degrades the aesthetics of the front of the housing of the clothes dryer.

[0010] In order to overcome such problems, a structure is possible in which the filter is pulled out sideways from the housing. However, in general, the clothes dryer is often installed in a place in which spaces besides or behind the housing are limited. Hence, it is unlikely to adopt such a structure in which the filter is pulled out sideways from the clothes dryer.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0011] 

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-301220

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, a clothes dryer according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing; a drum which holds clothes to be dried; a hot air generator which generates hot air to be sent into the drum; an air blower which is disposed at a front lower portion within the housing and which draws ambient air into the housing; an ambient air inlet provided in a bottom of the housing and in front of the air blower; and an opening which is disposed in the bottom of the housing and which communicates with the air blower.

[0013] Such a structure prevents a gap from being formed at the front face of the housing of the clothes dryer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent foreign objects from entering the housing through the gap. Moreover, an opening is provided which communicates with the air blower. With this, even if the ambient air inlet is blocked, ambient air can be drawn into the housing through the opening. As a result, it is possible to provide a clothes dryer which is capable of efficiently cooling the inside of the housing and minimizing reduction in heat-exchange efficiency of the heat pump device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] 

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a structure of a clothes dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of major parts near an ambient air inlet of the clothes dryer according to the exemplary embodiment, seen from the bottom of a housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0015] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the exemplary embodiment should not limit the present invention.

(EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT)

[0016] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, a description will be given of a clothes dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a structure of a clothes dryer according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0018] As FIG. 1 illustrates, clothes dryer 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes housing 11 including at least door 15. In housing 11, drum 12, a hot air generator including heat pump device 13, air blower 14, motor 16, drying duct 23, drying fan 22 and the like are disposed. Door 15 is opened and closed so that clothes to be dried and the like are held in drum 12.

[0019] Motor 16 rotates and drives drum 12 via pulley 17 and belt 18. Moreover, motor 16 rotates and drives drying fan 22 via pulley 24 and belt 25.

[0020] Heat pump device 13 is disposed at a lower portion within housing 11, and includes compressor 19, condenser 20, evaporator 21, and the like which are communicated via a pipe through which a refrigerant circulates.

[0021] As FIG. 1 illustrates, drying fan 22 generates an air flow, as illustrated in dashed arrows, which circulates through heat pump device 13, drying duct 23, and drum 12. The air dehumidified by evaporator 21 of heat pump device 13 is heated by condenser 20, thereby becoming dried hot air. The dried hot air is drawn into drum 12 through drying duct 23. The hot air is applied to the clothes to be dried which are agitated by rotation of drum 12 to dry the clothes.

[0022] Air blower 14 is disposed at a front (for example, left side in FIG. 1) lower portion and at the upstream side of heat pump device 13 within the housing 11.

[0023] Moreover, as FIG. 1 illustrates, ambient air inlet 26 is provided in bottom 11a of housing 11 and in front of air blower 14. Operation of air blower 14 draws ambient air from outside of housing 11 into housing 11 through ambient air inlet 26, as illustrated in solid arrows. Specifically, ambient air inlet 26 is provided in front of air blower 14 that is at the suction side of air blower 14. In this way, air can be drawn into housing 11 more efficiently than the case where ambient air inlet 26 is provided at the side or back of air blower 14. In other words, ambient air can be efficiently drawn into housing 11 by providing ambient air inlet 26 near air blower 14, and/or at a position which has the least amount of obstruction between ambient air inlet 26 and air blower 14. Accordingly, an inexpensive fan, such as an axial fan, can be used as air blower 14.

[0024] The clothes dryer according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured as described above.

[0025] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, a brief description will be given of the air flow in the clothes dryer according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0026] As FIG. 1 illustrates, the temperature of the air in housing 11 of clothes dryer 10 generally increases due to heat radiation from drum 12, drying duct 23, motor 16, heat pump device 13 and the like.

[0027] Here, air blower 14 draws ambient air into housing 11 through ambient air inlet 26. As a result, the high-temperature air in housing 11 is cooled and vented to the outside of housing 11.

[0028] Moreover, the ambient air drawn into housing 11 cools, in particular, compressor 19 of heat pump device 13. This increases heat-exchange efficiency of heat pump device 13.

[0029] Next, a description will be given of reasons why ambient air inlet 26 is provided in the front lower portion within housing 11.

[0030] In general, clothes dryer 10 is often installed in a place in which spaces besides, behind, or above housing 11 are limited. In addition, heat and moisture are released from the back and the like of housing 11 of clothes dryer 10. In other words, the temperature and humidity of the ambient air are lower at the front of clothes dryer 10 than at the back of clothes dryer 10. Accordingly, drawing in ambient air from the front of clothes dryer 10 achieves higher cooling efficiency of the high-temperature air in housing 11. In other words, ambient air inlet 26 is preferably provided at the front of clothes dryer 10. Additionally, air blower 14 is preferably disposed at a front portion within housing 11 to efficiently draw the ambient air into housing 11.

[0031] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2, a detailed description will be given of a structure for drawing in the ambient air from outside of the clothes dryer according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of major parts near the ambient air inlet of the clothes dryer, seen from the bottom of the housing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0033] As FIG. 2 illustrates, ambient air inlet 26 of clothes dryer 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of holes 27.

[0034] The ambient air is drawn by air blower 14 into housing 11 through each of holes 27 of ambient air inlet 26, as illustrated in solid arrows in FIG. 2.

[0035] In other words, in the present exemplary embodiment, ambient air inlet 26 includes relatively small holes 27. Such a structure prevents large foreign objects from being drawn from the outside into housing 11.

[0036] Moreover, holes 27 of ambient air inlet 26 allow ambient air inlet 26 to function like a filter.

[0037] However, if a piece of paper or the like adheres to holes 27 which are relatively small, ambient air inlet 26 is blocked, which may result in insufficient drawing of ambient air.

[0038] In view of the above, clothes dryer 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes openings 28 in bottom 11a of housing 11 and near ambient air inlet 26.

[0039] As FIG. 2 illustrates, openings 28 are provided side by side with ambient air inlet 26 (laterally along the direction of housing 11). Moreover, openings 28 communicate with air blower 14. Hence, even if ambient air inlet 26 is blocked by a piece of paper or the like, as dashed arrows in FIG. 2 illustrate, the ambient air is drawn into housing 11 through openings 28. This allows the inside of housing 11 and heat pump device 13 to be cooled more efficiently and reliably. It is preferable that openings 28 communicate with air blower 14 via duct 29. This allows the ambient air from openings 28 to be reliably drawn into housing 11.

[0040] Ambient air inlet 26 and openings 28 are provided side by side in bottom 11a of housing 11. As a result, a gap is not formed at the front face of housing 11 of clothes dryer 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent water or foreign objects from entering housing 11 through ambient air inlet 26 and openings 28. Additionally, aesthetic of the front face of housing 11 can be ensured with good design.

[0041] In the present exemplary embodiment, the heat pump device has been described as an example of a hot air generator, but the present disclosure is not limited to the example. For example, the hot air generator may be a heater having a controlled temperature. With this, it is possible to provide an inexpensive clothes dryer.

[0042] Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of an example where the air blower and the motor which rotates the drum are separately configured, but the present disclosure is not limited to the example. For example, the fan of the air blower may be integrally driven by the rotation of the motor via a gear and the like. This simplifies the structure.

[0043] Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, a filter for collecting dust drawn in through the ambient air inlet or the openings is not particularly mentioned, but it should be appreciated that such a filter may be disposed.

[0044] As described above, the clothes dryer according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing; a drum which holds clothes to be dried; a hot air generator which generates hot air to be sent into the drum; an air blower which is disposed at a front lower portion within the housing, and which draws ambient air into the housing; an ambient air inlet provided in a bottom of the housing and in front of the air blower; and an opening which is disposed in the bottom of the housing and which communicates with the air blower.

[0045] With this, a gap is not formed at the front face of the housing of the clothes dryer, which prevents foreign objects from entering the housing through the gap. Moreover, the openings which communicate with the air blower allows ambient air to be drawn into the housing through the openings even if the ambient air inlet is blocked. As a result, it is possible to provide a clothes dryer which is capable of efficiently cooling the inside of the housing and minimizing reduction in heat-exchange efficiency of the heat pump device.

[0046] Moreover, the clothes dryer according to an aspect of the present invention may include the openings provided side by side with the ambient air inlet. Such a structure allows ambient air to be drawn into the housing through the openings even if the ambient air inlet is blocked.

[0047] Moreover, according to the clothes dryer in an aspect of the present invention, the ambient air inlet may include a plurality of holes. With this, it is possible to prevent large foreign objects from entering the housing. Additionally, the ambient air inlet may function like a filter.

[0048] Moreover, according to the clothes dryer in an aspect of the present invention, the openings may communicate with the air blower via a duct. This allows ambient air from the openings to be drawn into the housing more reliably and efficiently.

[0049] Moreover, according to the clothes dryer in an aspect of the present invention, the hot air generator may include a heat pump device. With this, it is possible to provide a clothes dryer having high drying efficiency.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0050] Since the present invention allows ambient air to be reliably drawn in, the present invention is useful in the technical fields such as clothes dryers and washer dryers.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0051] 

10

clothes dryer

11

housing

11a

bottom

12

drum

13

heat pump device (hot air generator)

14

air blower

15

door

16

motor

17

pulley

18

belt

19

compressor

20

condenser

21

evaporator

22

drying fan

23

drying duct

24

pulley

25

belt

26

ambient air inlet

27

hole

28

opening

29

duct

Claims

1. A clothes dryer comprising:

a housing;

a drum which holds clothes to be dried;

a hot air generator which generates hot air to be sent into the drum;

an air blower disposed at a front lower portion within the housing, the air blower drawing ambient air into the housing;

an ambient air inlet provided in a bottom of the housing and in front of the air blower; and

an opening provided in the bottom of the housing and communicating with the air blower.

2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1,
wherein the opening is provided side by side with the ambient air inlet.

3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1,
wherein the ambient air inlet includes a plurality of holes.

4. The clothes dryer according to claim 1,
wherein the opening communicates with the air blower via a duct.

5. The clothes dryer according to claim 1,
wherein the hot air generator includes a heat pump device.

Drawing